Boat anchor reel



July 18, 1967 M. D. OGLESBY 3,331,349

BOAT ANCHOR REEL Filed Nov. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 2

Mil/er Dee Og/esby INVENTOR.

5 cum W 3 July 18, 1967 M. D. OGLESBY 3,331,349

BOAT ANCHOR REEL Filed Nov. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Miller Dee Og/esby INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3,331,349 Patented July 18, 1967 3,331,349 BOAT ANCHOR REEL Miller Dee Oglesby, Box 91, White Plains, Ky. 42464 Filed Nov. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 506,544 8 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A winding drum journaled from a suitable support frame adapted for securement in a boat with a similarly journaled torque input shaft drivingly connected to the drum by means of a back-pedalling coaster brake assembly whereby a hand crank carried by the torque input shaft may be utilized to rotate the winding drum in one direction in response to forward rotation of the input shaft, free rotation of the winding drum in the opposite direction independently of rotation of the input shaft may be realized in response to a slight angular displacement of the input shaft relative to the drum in a rearward direction of rotation, and the winding drum may be braked during its rotation in said opposite direction in response to further rearward angular displacement of the torque input shaft relative to the winding drum.

This invention relates to a novel and useful boat anchor reel and more specifically to a reel construction adapted primarily for use on small boats and to store, play out and reel in an anchor rope having an anchor attached to its free end.

The boat anchor reel of the instant invention includes a main supporting frame adapted to be supported from a boat and a winding drum is journaled on the frame and adapted to have a length of anchor rope wound thereon. Torque input shaft means is also journaled from the frame and driving torque transfer means operatively drivingly connects the torque input shaft to the drum for rotation of the latter in one direction in response to forward rotation of the torque input shaft. The driving torque transfer means also operatively drivingly connects the torque input shaft to the drum in a manner enabling free rotation of the drum in the opposite direction independently of the torque input shaft in response to slight angular displacement of the input shaft relative to the drum in a rearward direction of rotation and also braking rotation of the drum when rotating in the abovementioned opposite direction in response to further angular displacement of the input shaft in a rearward direction of rotation.

The torque input shaft is provided with hand operable crank means for effecting its rotation and accordingly, rotation of the torque input shaft in a forward direction by means of the hand operable crank means will cause the drum to also rotate in a forward direction operable to wind the anchor rope thereon. Then, if the torque input shaft is rotated slightly rearwardly relative to the drum, the drum will be free to rotate in the opposite or reverse direction so as to enable the anchor rope thereon to be freely unwound therefrom such as when dropping the associated anchor. Then, if it is desirable to stop or slow down the playing out of anchor rope caused by rearward rotation of the drum, the torque input shaft may be rotated still further in a rearward direction of rotation so as to brake and slow down or stop the rearward rotation of the drum.

Accordingly, it may be readily understood that the boat anchor reel of the instant invention includes improved operating features which enable a single torque input lever to be utilized to wind the associated anchor rope on the reel, to enable the anchor rope to be freely unreeled from the anchor reel and to also be utilized to slow down or stop rotation of the reel in a direction unwinding the associated anchor rope therefrom. This single lever operation of the boat anchor reel of the instant invention as opposed to at least two lever operation of comparable boat anchor reels presently available and including braking means for slowing rotation of the reel when unreeling the associated anchor rope greatly increases the usefulness of the boat anchor reel comprising the instant invention.

A main object of this invention is to provide a boat anchor reel designed primarily for use on small row boats and the like but which will also be adaptable for use 'on larger boats utilizing heavier anchors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a boat anchor reel adapted to be removably supported from a conventional transversely extending bench type seat of a row boat or the like.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a boat anchor reel including a single crank-type operating lever or the like for winding the associated anchor rope on the reel, for enabling free unreeling of the associated anchor rope and for braking or stopping rotation of the reel portion in a direction unwinding the associated rope.

A final object of this invention to be specifically .enumerated herein is to provide a boat anchor reel in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken upon a plane passing through the approximate center of a conventional form of rowboat and with the boat anchor reel of the instant invention shown operatively clampingly engaged with its associated boat seat, portions of the boat anchor reel being broken away and also illustrated in vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but illustrating the opposite side of the boat anchor reel;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatical view of a conventional form of small fishing boat having an outboard motor mounted thereon and illustrated with the boat anchor reel of the instant invention operatively associated with and supported from the rear transversely extending bench-type seat of the boat and the anchor rope associated with the reel operatively engaged with guides carried by the boat.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of fishing boat which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG- URE 5 of the drawings and may be seen to include three transversely extending bench-type seats 12, 14 and 16. An out-board motor 18 i supported from the transom of the boat 10 and the boat anchor reel of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 20 and illustrated as being removably clampingly secured. to the rear transverse seat 16 of the boat 10.

The boat anchor reel of the instant invention includes a main frame generally referred to by the reference numeral 22 from which a drum assembly 30 is rotatably journaled. An elongated and flexible anchor rope 32 has one end wound partially about the drum assembly 30 and is disposed in guiding engagement with a plurality of pulley-type guides 34, 36 and 38 journaled from the boat 10 in any convenient manner and spaced so as to guide the rope 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE of the drawings with the free end of the rope passing over the pulley 38 at the bow of the boat and extending downwardly to the anchor (not shown) secured thereto.

The frame 22 includes a pair of angulatcd longitudinally extending side members 40 and 42 interconnected at their forward ends as at 44 in any convenient manner such as by welding. The side members 40 and 42 each include a depending abutment block 46 removably engaged with the forward edge portion of the seat 16 and a depending plate 48 is carried by the forward end of the side member 42 and threadingly receives therethrough a clamping screw 50. The clamping screw 50 includes an abutment head '52 on one end opposing the abutment blocks 46 and is provided with a transversely extending handle 52 on the other. From FIGURE 1 of the drawings it may be seen that the abutment block 46 and the clamping screw 50 comprise clamp means for clampingly securing the main frame 22 to the seat 16.

The drum assembly 30 extends between and is rotatably supported from the forward ends of the side members 40 and 42 and is mounted on a shaft 56 secured through the journal portions 40 and 42' carried by the forward ends of the ide members 40 and 42, respectively. The drum assembly 30 includes a drum portion 58 rotatably mounted on the shaft 56 and upon which one end of the anchor rope 32 is partially wound.

The drum assembly 30 includes a coaster brake assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 60 which is operatively connected between the main frame 22 and the drum portion 58 in the same manner the coaster brake assembly 60 would be connected between the frame of the bicycle and the associated rear wheel of a bicycle using the coaster brake assembly 60.

The coaster brake assembly 60 includes the usual torque input sprocket wheel 62 and anchor arm 64 which is anchored to the main frame 22 by means of the usual clamp assembly 64.

The coaster 'brake assembly 60 is of conventional design and may be similar to the Komet-Super Coaster Brake #161 in that it includes a back-pedalling brake and driving cone mechanism.

It is important to the instant invention that a backpedalling coaster brake assembly such as assembly 60 be utilized in the instant invention as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The main frame 22 additionally includes a pair of standard forming members 68 and 70 which converge upwardly from opposite end portions of the side member 42 and are secured to a journal sleeve 72 at their upper ends. In addition, an inclined brace member 74 is provided and is secured between the forward end of the side member 40 and the journal sleeve 72.

The journal sleeve 72 rotatably journals a torque input shaft 76 on which there is mounted a sprocket wheel 78 aligned with the sprocket wheel 62. The shaft 76 includes a crank arm or lever 80 and a chain guard assembly 82 is supported from the member 70 by means of suitable mounting brackets 84 and partially encloses an endless chain 86 entrained about the sprocket wheels 62 and 78.

An expansion spring 90 is secured to the member 70 as at 92 and has a free end 94 which may be releasably engaged with the crank arm or lever 80 to retain the latter against rotation relative to the frame 22.

The main frame 22 also includes a generally U-shaped rope guide 96 including a pair of legs 98 having their rear ends secured to the sleeve or journal portions 40' and 42 and their forward ends interconnected by means of a bight portion 100 defining a slot 102 extending longitu- 43 dinally of the bight portion 100 and through which the rope 32 is slidably received.

In operation, the main frame 22 is removably clampingly engaged and supported from the seat 16 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings by means of the clamping screw 50. Then, with the anchor rope 32 engaged with the pulley wheels 34, 36 and 38, the crank arm or lever may be released by removing the expansion spring from engagement therewith and the crank arm 80 may be initially rotated slightly in a counterclockwise direction in order to release the drum portion 58 for free rotation in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. This of course will allow the anchor rope 32 to be unreeled from the drum portion 58 and the associated anchor rope (not shown) could be lowered. Should the anchor rope 32 be unreeled at an excessive speed, the crank arm or lever 80 may be further rotated in a clockwise direction actuating the braking mechanism of the coaster brake assembly 60 to slow down or brake the rotation of the drum portion 58 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. Then, after the anchor has reached the bottom and the proper amount of extra line has been unreeled from the drum portion 58, the crank arm or lever 80 may be rotated to the one oclock position as seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings and the expansion spring 90 may be engaged therewith to apply a constant torque on the input shaft 76 maintaining the coaster brake assembly 60 in braking condition so as to prevent rotation of the drum portion 58 relative to the main frame 22. If it is then desired to raise the anchor, the expansion spring 90 is released from engagement with the crank arm or lever 80 and the latter is rotated in a counterclockwise direction imparting similar rotation to the drum portion 58 and causing the anchor rope 42 to be again wound on the drum portion 58. Then, in order to maintain the anchor in a raised position, the crank arm or lever 80 may be secured in the six oclock position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings by means of the expansion spring 90 or may be rotated to the one -oclock position previously referred to with the brake portion of the coaster brake assembly 60 actuated and thereafter have the expansion spring 90 operatively engaged therewith so as to maintain the brake portion of the coaster brake assembly 60 actuated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A boat anchor reel comprising a frame adapted to be supported from a boat, an elongated winding drum journalled at its opposite ends from said frame adapted to have a length of anchor rope wound thereon, a torque input shaft journalled from said frame, driving torque transfer and braking means operatively drivingly connecting said input shaft to said drum for rotation of the latter in one direction in response to forward rotation of said input shaft, free rotation of said drum in the opposite direction independently of said shaft in response to slight angular displacement of said shaft relative to said drum in a rearward direction of rotation, and also braking rotation of said drum in said opposite direction in response to further angular displacement of said shaft in a rearward direction of rotation relative to said drum.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said frame includes means adapted to support said frame from a transversely extending bench-type seat of a boat.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the last mentioned means includes clamp means adapted to rest upon and clampingly engage said seat.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said driving torque transfer means including an input wheel mounted for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said drum, said torque input shaft including an output wheel aligned with and positively drivingly connected to said input wheel.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein sad torque input shaft includes hand operable crank means adapting said shaft to be rotated by hand.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said driving torque transfer means including an input wheel mounted for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said drum, said torque input shaft including an output wheel aligned with and positively drivingly connected to said input Wheel, said frame being elongated, said drum and torque input shaft being journaled from opposite end portions of said frame for rotation about axes extending transversely thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said frame includes clamp means adapted to rest upon and clampingly engage a bench-type seat extending transversely of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,851 4/1931 Wennerstrom 114210 1,852,517 4/1932 Harrison 192--6 X 3,041,045 6/ 1962' Bleiler.

3,081,641 3/1963 Iseman 1926 X 3,106,180 10/1963 Rice 114-210 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

20 T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BOAT ANCHOR REEL COMPRISING A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED FROM A BOAT, AN ELONGATED WINDING DRUM JOURNALLED AT ITS SUPPORTED ENDS FROM SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO HAVE A LENGTH OF ANCHOR ROPE WOUND THEREON, A TORQUE INPUT SHAFT JOURNALLED FROM SAID FRAME, DRIVING TORQUE TRANSFER AND BRAKING MEANS OPERATIVELY DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID INPUT SHAFT TO SAID DRUM FOR ROTATION OF THE LATTER IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO FORWARD ROTATION OF SAID INPUT SHAFT, FREE ROTATION OF SAID DRUM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SHAFT IN RESPONSE TO SLIGHT ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHAFT RELATIVE TO SAID DRUM IN A REARWARD DIRECTION OF ROTATION, AND ALSO BRAKING ROTATION OF SAID DRUM IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHAFT IN A REARWARD DIRECTION OF ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID DRUM. 